CVE-2023-29282 in Substance 3D Painter
Summary
by MITRE • 05/12/2023
Adobe Substance 3D Painter versions 8.3.0 (and earlier) is affected by an out-of-bounds write vulnerability that could result in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2025
Adobe Substance 3D Painter version 8.3.0 and earlier contains a critical out-of-bounds write vulnerability that represents a significant security risk for users working with 3D content creation tools. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write classification, which occurs when a program writes data past the end of a buffer or array, potentially corrupting adjacent memory locations. The flaw exists within the application's handling of maliciously crafted files that users must intentionally open to trigger the exploit, making it a user-interaction dependent vulnerability that requires social engineering or targeted attacks to be successfully exploited.
The technical nature of this vulnerability allows an attacker to craft a specially designed file that when opened by an unsuspecting user will cause the application to write data beyond allocated memory boundaries. This memory corruption can lead to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the currently logged-in user, potentially enabling full system compromise. The vulnerability specifically affects the file parsing functionality within the Substance 3D Painter application, where input validation appears to be insufficient when processing certain file formats or data structures. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in creative software environments where users frequently open files from various sources, including third-party content creators and collaborative workflows.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it represents a potential entry point for more sophisticated attacks within creative workflows. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to install malware, steal sensitive project data, or establish persistent access within environments where Substance 3D Painter is commonly used for professional 3D modeling and texturing tasks. The requirement for user interaction makes this vulnerability less likely to be exploited at scale but still poses a significant risk in targeted attacks against specific users or organizations that rely heavily on this software. Security researchers have noted that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute commands within the victim's session context.
Organizations using Adobe Substance 3D Painter should immediately implement mitigation strategies including updating to the latest version of the software where this vulnerability has been patched, implementing strict file validation policies for incoming content, and conducting user awareness training about the dangers of opening untrusted files. System administrators should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict the execution of unauthorized software, and network security controls should monitor for suspicious file transfers or downloads that might contain malicious payloads. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software in creative applications where file handling can become a security vector, as these tools often process complex binary data that can be exploited through memory corruption flaws. Users should also be advised to avoid opening files from untrusted sources and to verify file integrity through checksums or digital signatures when possible.